District deals with outbreak

 By PISAI GUMAR

THE Bulolo district administration and Morobe provincial health disease control authorities have initiated preventive measures to contain the diarrhoea outbreak in the town.

Samples from those suffering the disease have been taken for tests.

Provincial administrator Tae Gwambelek said Bulolo district faced financial problems because of the issues it had to deal with like the Black Cat Track killings, Bubu and Watut clash, death of Buang president Sam Sakai and the diarrhoea outbreak on Oct 1.

“Among 217 people diagnosed with diarrhoea, 86 were at the Bubu refugee camp. The rest are from the settlements in town,” Gwambelek said.

Provincial health advisor Micah Yawing said the Bulolo health centre, housing commission clinic and New Camp aid post were monitoring the situation, especially of the patients.

“Our objective is to identify the cause, prevent deaths and transmission and establish data on daily occurrences,” he said.

The death of a three-year-old child from Tambunum, in East Sepik, alerted health officials.

“There are two adult and a child suspected of cholera being monitored and treated at the Bubu refugee camp,” Gwambelek said.

He said the outbreak could have been caused by untreated water, food and susceptible or bona-fide germ carriers.

All cooked food outlets and roadside markets, bakeries, ice blocks, cordials and fruits and vegetables have been banned.

The market has been closed for an indefinite period.

He said medical supplies were delivered last Thursday and more drugs were coming.